A Delhi University graduate is battling for his life after allegedly being set alight by three assailants.

The victim, Dilip Kumar, aged 22, suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body, and is in a critical condition in GB Pant Hospital ICU.

He was burned alive by three bike-borne assailants in Bawana, within the jurisdiction of Rohini police station in Delhi, on Friday.

The attack took place after Kumar, a resident of Nangloi, visited Sultanpur Dabas with his girlfriend at about 11am.

Local residents rushed the victim to GB Pant Hospital

'The three goons sitting on the roadside first stared and passed lewd comments at the girl as soon as they crossed past them.

'Kumar stopped the bike and objected to their act. Meanwhile, while the quarrel was on, the goons removed the duppatta of the girl. This led to a heated exchange of words between them,' said an investigating officer.

The trio then threatened Kumar of dire consequences and verbally abused the girl.

The entire incident took place in public, but no one dared to intervene as the three men are 'infamous' in the area.

Victim Dilip Kumar suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body

After the altercation, Kumar left the area but the trio followed the couple on another bike.

When he got close to a gaushala, they intercepted the pair and thrashed Kumar.

'One of the accused then took out petrol from the bike tank into a plastic bottle and doused Kumar with it. They then set him afire.

'There were quite a significant number of people present there, but no one intervened. The local people doused the flames only after the trio left the spot,' the investigating officer said.

Local residents then rescued Kumar and rushed him to GB Pant Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

The nature of the attack was alarming, as it took place in full public view, similar to another incident on Thursday when a BA second year student was attacked by five students, who left him with a slit throat in a moving bus near Ashram Chowk.

There were 40 passengers on board but no one dared to challenge the attackers.